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ff.7/,- MINICON,.. 19! April 1, and-a 2, and-a 3,1983

Pro Guest of Honor Larry Niven Fan Guests of Honor Pamela (Dean) and David Dyer'Bennet

Artist Guest of Honor Dave Sim

Musician Guest of Honor Spider John Koerner Proxy Guest of Honor Nostradamus

(who knew it all along)

Toastmaster Steven K. Zoltan Brust

Join us, dear friends, as we back, Back, BACK our way into the future at Minicon 19! Jumpshift your way to thrills and excitement! Go native, go Aardvark! Sing "Acres of Clams" at the top of your vocal apparatus! We hope you're really sick of exclamation points!

cj(»

Cover art by Ken Fletcher and David Egge.

© 1983 Minnesota Science Fiction Society, Inc. Registration

Hours are: Friday 9 AM - 9 PM Saturday 10 AM - 7 PM

Registration will be located in the cloak/h^ room just off the escalators on the lower level where most programming will be. When registration is closed, pre-registrations can be picked up at room 114 (The Bridge).

T-Shirts Once again we bring you a great selection of Minicon memorabilia: Minicon T-shirts, featuring the work of Artist Guest of Honor Dave Sim (see illo); MORE Min icon 19 T-shirts with artwork by Laramie Sasseville and Deborah Kilian Larson; Maturity by Theodore Sturgeon; Spi ndi zzy, a comedy record by Shockwave; frisbees, and more. Stop by the Sales table near registration between Noon and 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, or 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, and trade some of your filthy lucre MINICON for a nice clean T-shirt.

Concert Gnus

Don’t miss the Spider John Koerner concert Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. in Wabasha North. This is good-time music at its best, folk and blues embroidered with Spider John’s distinctive guitar sound and warm voice. (Read Spider Robinson’s introduction lo the man else­ where in the program book.) Policies & Other Good Things to Know

1. In case of emergency contact any committee member or call room 114 (committee head­ quarters . 2. Anyone carrying an alcoholic beverage in the hotel lobby or public function areas that was not purchased from the hotel is endangering the hotel's liquor license and may be subject to arrest. Please do not visit these areas while carrying open beer or wine bottles. 3. Please do not bring glass containers of any sort into the pool area. We are allowed use of the pool past its usual operating hours. Treat it nicely. 4. Hotel check-out time on Sunday has been extended to 5 P»m.

A Word To The Wise

The legal age for drinking alcohol in the state of Minnesota is 19 years old. It is illegal to serve alcohol to anyone under that age. Other lawful psychoactive substances include caffeine, tobacco, and sugar. The Minicon committee will not condone any use of illegal substances.

Con Suite

What can we say about the consulte? It's in room 2022, the McKnight Suite. For all you fishy people, there's also a consuite-by-the-pool . Check the schedule for hours.

4 Weapons Policy

Our weapons policy remains unchanged from last year. 1. Edged weapons are allowed but must be handled re­ sponsibly. Irresponsible handling of any weapon is dangerous and may be grounds for ejection from the convention. 2. No real-looking guns. The plexiglass, light-emitting "zap guns" generally do not "look real" to us. 3. Lasers are permitted if they belong to Class one or Class two as defined by the Bureau of Radiological Heal th. 4. In order to avoid disturbing our cetacean members, no Nukes J11 Peace-bonding, as practiced by the Society for Creative Anachronists, is recommended for edged weapons. It is the practice of tying a blade into the sheath with twine or a ribbon. This prevents others from drawing your blade and reduces the temptation to draw it your­ self in locations and situations where it is not appro­ priate. (Remember, "If you kill it, you eat it.")

5 Artshow & Auctions

Operating I ns truet ions:

1- Come in. Look around. Enjoy. Buy things. 2. Oh, you want to know how to buy things. All right. A) Each piece of art has a Bid Sheet attached to it, with room for your name and bid to be written on it. Write your name and bid on it. Make sure your bid is at least as much as the minimum bid of the artwork. (Remember, a written bid is a contract to buy the art — unless you are out-bid, the art is yoursl Please don't bid on anything unless you intend to pay for it.) B) If you real 1y want the art, and don’t want to take the chance of somebody out-bidding you (horrors!), there is often a Quick Sale Price listed on the Bid Sheet. Pay that, and the art is yours (that is, if nobody has already bid on it, in which case you have it out in the Auction).

Auctions and How They Work:

1. Any piece of art which receives two or more written bids is declared Fine Art, and goes to the Voice Auction. The first person to recognize the work’s sterling qualities and bid on it has the honor of choosing which Auction it will be sold in. A) If you don’t tell us which Auction you want the art in, we’ll tell you, 2. If no one else has the good taste to recognize the obvious value of a work of art on which you’ve bid, and yours is the only bid at the time of the specified Auction, the piece is yours for the written bid.

6 Do’s and Do Not Do's:

Things you do: Ogle; Drool (at a discreet distance from the artwork); Spend lots of money; Bring friends; Have them spend money, too; Curb young children. Things you don't: Smoke; Bring cameras or large bags into the Artshow (we can watch them for you at the front table); Handle the Artwork; Buy Artwork for minimum bid after the last Auction.

****FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY!**** Can you walk? Can you write legibly and fairly quickly? Do you have an overwhelming need to get up in front of large groups of people? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re just the person we’re looking for. Come be a Runner at the Art Auction! We'll even provide instruction at no extra charge. Apply at the Art Show during open hours, Friday or Saturday. (Please, we prefer people at least 1^ years old.)

Art Show and Auction times are:

Fri day 1 PM 5 PM (check-in and set-up only) 5 PM 8 PM Saturday 10 AM 7 PM 11 PM ? (Auction) Sunday 10 AM 11 AM 12 Noon - ? (Auction)

Special thanks to Rusty Heyel in, who is running this year's art auctions. Pro Guest of Honor:

Larry Niven

by Don Bailey

I first met Larry Niven at Minicon 7 in 1973. (You remember 3973, the year we’re going to hold a worldcon?) I remember a pleasant, brown-haired man who seemed to be having a good time. Shortly after­ wards, I began reading his works (I RS take note: SF cons really are a business expense), and soon declared him to be my favorite writer. Anyone who would name a planet "We-made-it" is my kind of person. In 1976, I had an opportunity to move to California and observe Larry in his native habitat. I found him to be a quiet man who enjoys sharing interesting ideas with people. I also found him to be a very good poker pl ayer. If you have never read anything by Larry Niven, you have a lot of good reading ahead. From the spec­ tacle of Ringworld to the predicaments of Svetz the time traveller, Larry consistantly creates plausible cultures, creatures, and contraptions. Even his magicians seem too realistic to be considered "fan­ tasy." Larry’s sense of humor tends toward logical in­ congruities, word play, and writing people into stories. His novel, The Flying Sorcerers, co-written with David Gerrold, is great fun for any long-time SF reader because of the many author references in a plot which has a modern, scientific, space traveller encounter a primitive society and a very jealous wi tchdoctor. 8 continued page 10 RING WORLD... THE MOTE IN GOD’S EYE... LUCIFER’S HAMMER... DREAM PARK... RINGWORLD ENGINEERS...

NOW THE FATE OF THE WORLD HANGS BY A THREAD— THE K DESCENT .g

LARRY NIVEN & STEVEN RARNES SL ®TOR ISBN: 48-542-5 WE RE PART OF THE FUTURE. Larry Niven continued

One of Larry’s more remarkable talents is his ability to collaborate with others. It takes a special blend of assertiveness and attention to coordinate such efforts without a lot of friction. To date, Larry has co-authored seven different novels, the latest being Oath of Fealty, with Jerry Pournelle, and Descent of Anansi, with Steve Barnes. Some writers use the same character types repeat­ edly, and their personality comes through quite strongly. With Larry, it’s not so obvious. He’s not afraid of everything, he’s not out to conquer the world, and he doesn’t show-off by lifting drinks telekinetically. Yet, I have discovered the true Larry Niven: it’s the Warlock! So if you meet him in the hall, say hello and tell him which of his stories you liked, but if he shows you a little copper wheel, please don't ask him to demonstrate it in the hotel. (And if you don’t recognize some of my refer­ ences, ask Larry.)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The following is a partial (very!) list of books by Larry Niven, with the most recent at the top.

DESCENT OF ANANSI, with Steve Barnes OATH OF FEALTY, with Jerry Pournelle THE MAGIC MAY RETURN, edited by Larry Niven DREAM PARK, with Steve Barnes THE PATCHWORK GIRL THE RINGWORLD ENGINEERS CONVERGENT SERIES (collected stories) THE MAGIC GOES AWAY LUCIFER'S HAMMER WORLD OUT OF TIME THE LONG ARM OF GIL HAMILTON (collected stories) TALES OF KNOWN SPACE (collected stories)

continued page 12 10 TWO TOUGH. INTELLIGENT RACES NEED THE SAME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE TO SURVIVE ONE OF THEM IS US THE OTHER OWNS IT.

FROM THE AUTHOR OF MILLENNIUM. COLONY AND TEST OF FIRE— A NOVEL OF INTERSTELLAR COLONIZATION IN THE 21 ST CENTURY BIBLIOGRAPHY continued

INFERNO THE MOTE IN GOD'S EYE, with Jerry Pournelle A HOLE IN SPACE (collected stories) THE FLIGHT OF THE HORSE PROTECTOR INCONSTANT MOON RINGWORLD ALL THE MYRIAD WAYS (collected stories) THE FLYING SORCERERS, with David Gerrold THE SHAPE OF SPACE (collected stories) A GIFT FROM EARTH NEUTRON STAR (collected stories) WORLD OF PTAVVS

If you'd like to know more about what he has written, check your local public library!

12 THE SOVIET UNION’S TOP SCIENTIST WANTS TO BETRAY HIS COUNTRY. WHY? THE ANSWER WILL GIVE YOU NIGHTMARES.

TIME SAFARI, AND THE DRAGON LORD: A NOVEL THAT WILL HAUNT YOU. BY DAVID DRAKE ®TOR BOOKS WE’RE PART OF THE FUTURE Fan Guests of Honor:

Pamela Dean David Dyer-Bennet

by Will Shetterly

I don’t think Pamela and David should have been our Fan Guests of Honor, I think they should have been our People Guests of Honor, but that would have meant creating a new category, so the con committee made them fans. Well, Pamela and David made themselves fans many years ago. Both were members of Minneapolis fandom until their recent move to Massachusetts. Both intro­ duced others to fandom. Both have, in their own ways, helped to sustain, advance, and improve local fannish projects and publications. Pamela and David aren’t interchangeable, they’re complementary. David has been more visible in Minne­ apolis fandom, perhaps because he’s taller. His house was long a center for fannish activity. He’s done his time doing Minicon's dirty work (in video, security, treasury, and operations), and resented it enough to sit down and, with a few others, revamp the structure of Minicon operations, thus making the running of this con a much easier and more efficient thing. Some of us couldn’t care less about that; we love him for his way with a wok. Pamela I just love because she's small and cute and red-headed and (lest any wonder at my sexist priorities) intelligent and observant and considerate and wise and... Pamela has been one of the stalwart supporters of local fandom, serving quietly and ably when such is necessary and few are able to do so. 14 Her fannish writing has established standards of gentility, wit, grace, style, and education that most of us can only strive for. She helped found a writing group that has since produced two published authors and may soon produce more. But I just love her because shels cute and... Ooops. This year, some of the Minicon committee wanted to bring David back as fan guest of honor. Some wanted to bring Pamela back. (n a rare moment of fannish compromise, we decided to bring them both back. Perhaps in that same spirit, they recently married, so what we actually got was David and Pamela Dyer-Bennet, but thatEs close enough for us. 1rm happy with our choice. 1 hope you will be, too. Artist Guest of Honor:

Dave Sim

by Kara Dalkey

At 26, Dave Sim is something of a phenomenon among underground comic book artists. He's a success. His main claim to fame, a monthly comic called Cerebus, The Aardvark, is now in its 47th issue and circulation is continuing to skyrocket. Not bad for a young guy from Kitchener, Ontario with little prior published material- Cerebus, The Aardvark is a sort of parody of Conan The Barbarian, and the sword and sorcery genre in general. It features as its unlikely hero a little, grey, furry aardvark that happens to wield a mean broadsword. The other characters around him are more normally human in appearance, but anything but normal in personality. They include such folk as Elrod The Albino (who just happens to talk like Foghorn Leghorn), Red Sophia, Moonroach (a superhero before his time), Lord Julius (who looks and sounds suspiciously like Groucho Marx) and many others. The comics are a series of more-or-less connected stories, telling of Cerebus1 rise from lowly barbarian mercenary to the prime-minister of a major city-state. Sim manages to fill them all with the best in dramatic art and wacky humor. This is, no doubt, why the Cerebus comics have become so popular. So popular, in fact, that just last year Dave made a nation-wide tour of the U.S. promoting Cerebus and meeting his fans. That tour was so successful, that Dave is planning a similar tour 16 of Canada* Cerebus hasnlt quite achieved the mar­ keting success of E.T., but it’s showing some of the symptoms; there are now available Cerebus t-shirts, Cerebus stuffed toys, Cerebus posters, Cerebus metal action figures, and a Cerebus color portfolio is coming soon. Cerebus even has his own fan club, and (locally) a radio show based on the comic series. Not bad for an earth-pig born, eh? Dave has such a busy schedule these days, we were lucky to have him agree to come to Min icon* Regrettably, his lovely wife Deni, who is the publisher of Cerebus, founder of Aardvark/Vanaheim Press, and is largely responsible for the comic’s existence, is unable to attend with him. Has success spoiled Dave Sim? Say Hi to him sometime during the con and see. And give Cerebus, The Aardvark a read sometime (though if you want to start at the beginning, you may have to borrow from a friend -- mint copies of Cerebus #1 are selling for around $225 among collectors). You111 be able to see the secret of Sim’s success for yourself.

4.00 KJ AM COY //U A

17 Microprogramming

Microprogramming is more than the re-creation of Vaudeville. In addition to bits of business between programming items, there will be various people doing impersonations, skits, occasionally explicable actions, signs and much more. Do not be alarmed at people doing weird things. To find out if they are part of the Microprogramming Committee, offer them bribes and they might give you a straight answer. If you find yourself doing weird things and are not sure if you are part of Microprogramming, ask yourself these questions: 1) is what you are doing funny? 2) is what you are doing acceptable to people listed in the program book as being part of Microprogramming? 3) is what you are doing relevant? 4) does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight? 5) what's the difference between a duck? If you have answers to any of these questions send two boxtops and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Microprogramming c/o Minicon. If you don’t have answers to any of these questions, you are much too normal and shouldn't be reading this.

18 Wabasha North Capitol Room Minnesota Ballroom

Hucksters Room Prog ramming

Films

WABASHA SOUTH

Art Show SCHEDULE CE EVENTS

FRIDAY______Niven Autograph Session l:00p- 2:OOp Huckster Room Registration open 9:00a- 9: OOp Coal Check Room Sii:i Autograph Session 2; 00p- 2:00? Huckster Room Huckster Room open Noon- 8;QOp Capitol Room Computer Workshop 2:-3Cp- r Computer Roe.n Miniccn Sales open Noon- 7:{IRp Lower Level Lobby Panel: Aliens-A Sense of 2:30p- uiOCp Ballroom Otherness Arcade opens Noon Pool Area Suite 301-303 Slide Show: A Minn-Szf 2:OOp--3;C0p Wabasha North Child Care open Noon- 4:Q0a Family 7vlbum. DD-E Wabasha Souzh Art Shew: Check in and l:Q0p- 5: OOp Juggling Workshop 2:OOp- 4:00p Plaza set up only Plaxa Panel: L-fi: The Need for 3:00p- 4:0(Jp Ballroom Catr.es workshop: "visit 2:OOp- SsOCp Permanent Space Stations Sunny Blackmore Dungeon" Wabasha Norin Indian Suite Slide Show: Spicer Looks 3;CCp- 4:0Cp Krushenko's opens 3:00p at Astronomy. Spider John Art show op^n 5:OOp- 8:COP Wabasha South Koerner Consulte officially opens 6: OOp McRnight Suite Panel: Dyson's Cube. 4: C-Op- 5: OOp Ballroom World Building Closing Ceremonies 8:30p-10:00p Ba]irooffl Panel: Alternate Fandoms 4:O3p- 5:00p Wabasha North Meet the Authors LC:00p- ? Pool Area Omnitheatre Show 5:30p- 600p MN Science Museum Poolside Consuite open 10:OOp- 2:0Qa Pool Area Kelly Dancing Performance 5:OOp- 8:OOp Ballroom Masquerade Dance and lOiSOp- 2:30a Plaza Light Show Belly Dancing Workshop 6:OOp- 7:00p Ballroom Films 10:30p- ? Ballroom Larry Niven interview 8;OOp- 9:OOp Wabasha North Massage Seminar 10:30p-Midnight Indian Suite Spider John Koerner 9:30p-10:3 Op Wabasha North Concert Films 9:OOp- ? Ballroom SATURDAY PooIside Consuite open 10:OOp- 2:00b Pool Area Registration open 8:03a- 7: OOp Coat Check Room Art Auction #1 11:OOp- ? Wabasha North Huckster Room open 10:03a- 6:OOp Capitol Room Kinicon sales open 10:3Ca- 7:00p Lower Level Lobby Art Show open 10:3Ca- 7:00p Wabasha south SUNDAY Columbia Pictures ll:3Ca- Noon Ballroom Hucksters Room open 10:00a- 5:OOp Capitol Room Prexr lews-Krull & Blue Minicon Sales open ID:3Da- 4:OOp Lower Level Lobby Thunder Art Show epen 10:30a-ll;00a Wabasha South Panel: Tales of Hell S ll:3Ca- Noon Wabasha North Henna. My th opoe ic Art Auction 42 Noon- ? Wabasha North Society. Discussion: Tales of Known Noon- l:00p Indian Suite Child Care open Koon- 4:00a Suite 3D1-303 Space—SF of Larry Niven Lecture: The Future of Koon- 1;QOp Ballroom Comics Roundtable 1:OOp- 2:DOp Indian Suite Com? uter s. Erian Tore n Panel: Creating Dreanparks 1:DOp- 2:00p Ballroom Panel: SF Locks at the Koon- 1:DOp Wabasha North Slide Show; Chuck Holst 2:OOp- 3:OOp Ballroom Mainstream Dragon Slice Show: Ruth 3:OOP- 4:OOp Ballroom Computer Seminar IsCOp- 2:OOp Ballroom Berman Panel: Do it YourssIf l;COp- 2:OOp Wabasha Korth Opening Ceremonies 4:OOp- S;00p Ballroom ComjCa 35

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KELLOGG BLVD.

Skyways

/n/o Musician Guest of Honor:

'Spider'John Koerner

by Spider Robinson

You ask me o f John Koerner, In 1985, a freshman a t Le Moyne C ollege, I stumbled across an anthology album c a lle d THE BLUES PROJECT (E le k tra EKS-726A) and discovered "S p id e r” John, Whomp bom! I was in lo ve . Dug up and dug h is albums wTth Dave "Snaker" Ray and Tony " L i t t l e Sun” G lover, records lik e BLUES, RAGS & HOLLERS; LOTS MORE BLUES, RAGS & HOLLERS (EKS- 7267); STILL MORE B, R & H; and THE RETURN OF KOERNER, RAY & GLOVER (EKS-7305), not to mention his solo album, SPIDER BLUES (EKS-729O)5 which co n tain s the legendary "Rent P arty Rag." As these sounds began to emanate from my room, hallm ates paid me in c re a s in g ly la rg e sums o f money not to play " th a t w eird Spider guy and h is n ----- m u sic.” K oerner's s tin g in g 7 -strin g g u ita r runs were u n a m p lifie d , h is rhythm s e c tio n was the bass s trin g s o f h is ax and h is big stomping boot, h is humor was s u b tle and la c o n ic he sounded very little like the Dave Cla rk F ive , is what I’m tr y in g to convey, and la te r when a dozen frie n d s co n ferred the name Spider on me, my in e x p licable fondness fo r his music was one o f the most c o n s is te n tly c ite d reasons. 1 d id n ’t g iv e a damn. Being a Koerner fan was lik e being an s f fa n : in any given c it y th e re were perhaps a dozen people who understood your passion — but you and them was b ro th e rs , u n ite d by good ta s te in the Land o f P h ili s t i nes. Jump-c u t. 1969 o r so. Somebody gave me a ta b le t which turned out to be a 2 - t r ip tab o f STP. Wish I 'd known before I ate i t . 30 hours la te r I hadn’t peaked y e t. Walked around a corner and in to a concert by S pider John and a fa t red-bearded guy he c a lle d "Sweet W illia m ," who spoke o n ly in fa ls e tto and played an u p rig h t piano w ith tacks in the hammers. Convinced I was h a llu c in a tin g , I wandered up onstage

continued next page Spider John Koerner continued

and sat at the Spider’s feet, holding his cigar for him between songs. Oh God, what songs! Six months later J moved into a crashpad full of strangers; you know how it is when you and new housemates are feel­ ing each other out? I put on the box an album just bought that day, RUNNING JUMPING STANDING STILL by Koerner & Willie Murphy, and by halfway through the first cut ("Red Palace"), everyone in the house had run in the room, torn off all their clothes, and started to dance. 1 have since bought 18 copies of that disc, and worn out 16 (Elektra EKS-y^O1! 1) . That was Koerner's last commercial record. In 1972 he cut a record for a Minneapolis label called Sweet Jane Ltd.; it is one of his very best and has the greatest title I've ever heard: MUSIC IS JUST A BUNCH OF NOTES. The album art is done by hand in magic marker, and the 3 pages of notes enclosed give extensive details about the recording, including cost data (1000 copies: $1,110; list price $2.50). Since then I have seen only one record, SOME AMERICAN FOLK SONGS LIKE THEY USED TO, and all my letters to Sweet Jane Ltd. offering cash for more Koerner have gone unanswered, more's the pity. In 1970 I had the honor of opening for Spider John at S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook, NY. No trick; my partner booked him for the gig. He played his ass off and showed his new Ford-Foundation-Grant movie, THE SOUND OF SLEEP, which ! hope will be shown at Minicon someday. I got him drunk and stoned and begged him for the chords to "Friends & Lovers," but he honestly couldn't recall them; he’d written it a whole year ago. By now his guitar had 9 strings, and he claimed it played itself. (I've always wondered what he does with the extra 3 strings.) Once when student-teaching I got in serious trouble for playing to a group of HS seniors the Koerner song "Bill & Annie" (the chorus runs "Don’t let the bastards wear you down/Don't get hassled to a frazzle/Coz they're all full of beans/anyway"). I once knew a fo1ksinger/barkeep (I've since borrowed his bar, the Scorpio Room, for the story "Satan's Children," and his name, Mike Callahan, for something or other) who claimed that one day he 24 and Spider John sat down in a Minneapolis bar, gave the owner $500, and told him to let them know when that was gone. He says they drank and talked and laughed for 72 hours, and when the barman apologeti­ cally told them their stake was gone, they got up, ran round the corner, played a gig together, made $200, came back and put it on the table and got back to work, Koerner and Willie Murphy (later of Willie and the Bumblebees) played Carnegie Hall one night and a roadside bar the next. Koerner will, apparently by choice, never get any serious money or fame, and no one will ever play and sing the blues as well, and I envy like dammit those of you who are going to get to hear him this year. I’d appreciate it if some one'd tape everything he says and does there and send me a copy, especially if he drops any hints on how to find Koerner records these days. He's my favorite singer/picker in the world, and if you’re about to hear him for the first time, you're one lucky sonofabitch, or bitch as the case may be. Enjoy.

25 CONTACT ADDRESS: Philadelphia in'86 Committee • P.O. Box 5814 • Philadelphia, PA 19128 Olympia SPA and RESORT POUL ANDERSON OCONOMOWOC, Wl DAVID EGGE

$10 Till 5-10-83 $15 Thereafter POB 7, Milwaukee,Wi 53201-0007 Toastmaster: Steven K. Zoltan Brust

by Pat Wrede

One evening about five years ago, my friend David Dyer-Bennet (who is described elsewhere in this book) phoned me and said, 1’You’ve been asking about fantasy roie-playing games, and we're having some at my apart­ ment tonight- Would you like to come try it?" or words to that effect. So I trundled on over, and found one person I knew and two 1 didn't sitting around a long table with lots of papers strewn about. The person on the end, a slight­ ly disreputable-looking man (or maybe it was only the mustache that looked slightly disreputable), looked up and said, ”| don’t believe I know you. I am Steven, of the House of Brust. Are you married? I am; wonder­ ful, isn't it? Sit down and roll up a character." He managed an elegant bow without standing up; I still haven’t figured out how he did it. And that was my introduction to Steve Brust. Steve is incredibly good at talking people into things. The year he was in charge of Minicon recruiting I stopped by the hotel, ran into Steve, and somehow wound up checking badges at the Art Show for two hours. And I hadn't even Intended to go to the con! Steve is also one of the most versatile people I know. In addition, I suspect he has found some way to fit an extra twelve hours or so into every day, and I think it's a bit mean of him not to share the secret with the rest of us. How else can you explain all the things he manages to do, and do well? For starters, he has a full-time job as a systems programmer for a computer manufacturer. He also has a full-time family, consisting of his wife, Reen, three children (two of them twins), assorted cats, a series of dogs, and occasional puppies or kittens, depending on which kind of pet got out at the wrong time. He is an author (his novel, JHEREG, just came out about a month ago, and he is at work on ‘‘something completely different,.,”). He is a musician/songwriter (both folk and filk) who has been both a guitarist and a drummer in assorted local bands. He also studies Shotokan karate and practices pistol-shooting and fencing (critics: be warned..,) When not busy with all of the above, he argues with people, invents traditional Hungarian and Dragaeran cuisine, plays fantasy role-playing games, argues with people, works on Minicons, acts in community theater, reads Roger Zelazny, argues with people, is generally active in local fandom (he has been vice-president of Minn-stf), and once in a while even sleeps. He is also Hungarian, which ought to be mentioned in here somewhere, but which doesn't fit anywhere else.

29 Celebrating a Quarter Century of Human Experience Proxy Guest of Honor:

Nostradamus by DavE Romm

Nostradamus: Seer, Mystic and party maven, Michel de Nostradame was born in 1503 and his physical body died in 1566- It is as a seer that he is chiefly remembered in this century. Through astrology and divination he made predictions that range over at least four hundred years. Though he started making prophecies in 15^7, his first book of predictive verse was published in 1555* He wrote in “centuries/1 or books of 100 verses, though not all verses survive. Scholars assume twelve of these centuries were written, and these compose most collections of his works. Minicon is fortunate to be the recipient of a long lost and heretofore unsuspected Century, the 19th. Even though this work was found after the selection process, he predicts being Guest of Honor at Minicon 19! Nostradamus lived at the time of the inquisition, wherein accusations of heresy or witchcraft sent millions to the stake or the rack. To prevent his own death in this manner, Nostradamus wrote in a still bewildering mixture of symbols, Old French, anagrams, Latin and other literary devices, and deliberately confused the dating of his quatrains. Like Minicon, the quatrains are not in any order. He rarely mentions specific dates, prefering astro­ logical conjunctions in many cases — though when he does give dates, they have been quite accurate. Interpretations vary widely, end most always make sense only ihindsight. Consequently, the Minicon committee has included the Original French as well a as our probable translation, and including our inter­ pretations. Some of these may be found in various places in the Radisson, including those of the newly found 19th century. Of the predictions dealing with the future no one can say with certainty, only with a moderate degree of probability. In this regard, Nostradamus ranks with many of the science fiction writers of today. Even though he is not with us in the flesh, he predicted he will have had a good time at Minicon 19. He sets the example for us all. 31 A\e.(bouo\e. Al/STRAL\A isV>idd3vk) -for-“The 1985 VVovdd Scievxce. Fic/tiovx Cow/e.vx'tiovx, Vfltiny will be. iv\ cov\jLAv\ctiov\ with the. \A/0vAdcov\ iv\ B>A l"hwk>v^.. ' I ]^Gtc4 use. oC'tlvE..ststrovtowicak '^-■fe^ewcc^- more ahouV "Ike- a>v\veA.+k>ri t __ 1H See. \Ajl\o(e Aew cLuavxKs of the. lAtqh.f'tiwke 5ky wkeA _ We (coKoeftke OASUite. Tltzk+ iMt-ykt~he.di-fficuIFX^1 >>vAow^ duriv\y fu^ parties, u/i+h ike-o+y lights on A uok knovi/f , Melteu rvte hns all Ike modeirvA Covweniertais... elk T v^cov^r pt looks up^iAe

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t- ^peak Mu/Supial aaA AHvtvsdinA, cobbler- I spindizzy A floppy dlik fcon. Stereo fytom the. people who brought you. CEREBUS, the nadlo i>how

Original SF humor from SHCCKWAUE, Twin Cities Science Fiction radio, and those who brought you Closing Ceremonies for Minicon. SPINDIZZY is 20 minutes of silliness, in STEREO and produced in Limited Radiomation for the fannish community, and for SHOCKWAVE, 90.3 FM, KFAI in South Minneapolis. Includes: "Preconceptions: News of the Future," the film trailer from Captain Audio and the Space CaAtettei, and much more. Available at the Minicon Sales table near the registration area, and qNLY 5Q Minnesota Munchie Movement by Rick Gel I man

"The Showcase of Faanish Culinary Artistry, OR Uncle Rick’s Garden of Gastronomic Delights"

The 3M (no relation, to the corporation of the same abbreviation) is the illegitimate offspring of Dis- clave’s (the Washington D.C. area con) International Cookie Conspiracy (ICC), and my fecund imagination’s intertwining with the sensual aestheticism of my palate. In other words, I liked Disclave's idea of having fans bring home-made goodies to share with other con-goers, and supplement consuite supplies. It is NOT the intent of the 3M to feed 1200 or so people for three days. Most of the supplies with be found late at night in the consuite and the poolside auxiliary consuite. We don’t know how much food will be brought to the con. Contributors get first shot at titilating their taste buds, others thereafter. The 3M will be run as we think best. You may dis­ agree with us; therefore, we retain the right to be arbitrary and capricious. The following is a sampling of the dishes we’ve been informed will be part of the 3M. Lentil soup, German cole slaw, fresh fruit salad, Mexican stew, stuffed mushrooms, shrimp creole, tuna Galapagos, veal scallopini, vegetarian lasagna, pan-fried dumplings, jambala, chocolate turtles, healthy oatmeal cookies, quiche, pine­ apple upsidedown cake, brownies.

Contributers include: Sandy Haines, Margie Lessinger, Peter Touluzzi, Mitch and Rhip Thornhill, Denise Nelson, Susan Murr, Darlene Maldonaldo, Tod Levitt, Lanny Waitsman, Laura Ann Cramer, Bob E. Felske, Toots LaRue, Galadriel Yunet, Annie Isenberg, Linda Ann Moss, Barry Lyn-Waitsman, Kate Worley, Joni Stopa, Rick Gellman, Jeannie Dietz, Marcy Lynn-Waitsman, Samantha Matthews, Sandi Wedemeier Doc and Jean Boriewits, Karen Trego, Peter Larsen, Jean Messer, Dave Messer, Alan Searle, Ben Lessinger, Louie Spooner, Steven Bond, Sue Hanson, Geri Sullivan, and Anonymous. 34 ATLANTA IN '86 WDRLDCON ATLANTA, INC./ATLANTA IN '86 P. O. BOX 10094, ATLANTA, GA. 30319 HucKSter Room

Huckster Room hours: Friday 12 Noon - 8 PM Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday 10 AM - 4 PM (room cleared by 5 PM)

No food, drinks, or smoking will be allowed in the room. Also, no swords, plergb, staves, or other long and/or pointy objects will be allowed in the room. Such items offered for sale will be required to be wrapped and immediately carried out of the room when purchased.

Mimeo Room

Lots of fun with.ink and stencils. Come in and get something printed, or, better still, talk with our expert staff of mimeographers about such arcane topics as fanzines, e-stenci11ers, gunked-up ink guns, hectographs, and what not* Check the pocket program for location and hours*

Child Care

Free child care by professional child care providers will be available in suite 3O1“3O3 during these hours: Friday Noon - 4 AM Saturday Noon - 4 AM There will be a special music program in the child care suite on Saturday from Noon to 4 PM, and maybe other children's programming if there seems to be a desire for it. Watch for signs at the con with more information, or inquire at the child care suite.

36 BLOOMN’CON II A STAR TREK fan convention July 1, 2, 3> 1983 at the RAMADA INN Bloomington, Minnesota Attending membership through June 15s $15-75 Children 5 years and. under: Free No pre-registrations accepted after June 15 At the door memberships: $20.00 Non-attending membership: $5-75 Semi-apocryphal: $1.00, includes badge (proceeds from semi-apocryphal memberships will be donated to the STAR TREK WETjCOMMITTEE) Make checks payable to "BlooMN'Con II" and send to: BlooMN’Con II Cynthia Levine P. 0. Box 248 Wayzata, MN 55391 Attendance will be limited to 125 members. ******************************************************* Programming highlights; panel discussions on the STAR TREK characters, costume call, banquet, filksing, films Dealer’s room: $5 per half table, $12 per full table (tables:6* x 30") • Make checks payable to "BlooMN'Con II" and send to the address above. Art show/auction: 10$ commission, 50# per piece hang­ ing fee. For further information, send a long self-addressed, stamped envelope to the address above. Hotel rates: $33/single, $38/double, $4? triple,quad All convention function areas have been designated non-smoking areas, except for the smoking lounge. Films

This is a partial listing of films we Hl be showing during Minicon. Look for the schedule of films and times in the pocket program book, and also posted near the film room.

Features: Quintet Doc Savage: the Man of Bronze The Last Days of Man on Earth The Omega Man

Featurettes: Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (with Boris Karloff) Mr. Moto‘s Last Warning (with Peter Lorre) and more...

Plus Shorts’

Omni theater

The Omni theater at the Science Museum of Minnesota surrounds you with a thrilling show of sound and colour. This year we will have two shows, at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday of the con. Both shows will feature the Omni theater‘s new production, GALAPAGOS, dealing with the wonder of evolution and Darwin's voyage to the Galapagos. Tickets will cost S3.50 and include ad- admission to the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Artists Credits Emma Bull - page 8, from photo by John O’Rourke page 1^, from photo by Judy Ci lea in page 16, from photo by William C. Johnson page 28, from photo by Fred Haskell Kara Dal key - pages 5, 12, 15, 18, 3 David Egge - cover Ken Fletcher - cover, pages 7, 22, 25 Erin McKee - pages 7, 17, 22, 29 Dave Sim - page 3 Guest of Honor Gene Wolfe

Toastmaster

Fan GoH Fred Haskell

ARCHON 7 MEMBERSHIPS

$12 until June 1, 1983 $18 Thereafter

FOR INFORMATION WRITE:

ARCHON 7

P. o. Box 15852 Overland. MO. 63114

Being held this summer. See flyers on Minicon freebie table for dates. e Con Committee, ernes en,

ARCADE: David Cargo* ART SHOW: Erin McKee*, Steve Bond,, Steve Cox, Dave Crawford, Kara Dalkey, Joel Halpern CHILD CARE: Sharon Kahn* EXEC: Don Bailey, Steve Bond, Scott Imcs, Mark Richards, Caryl Wixon FILMS: Floyd Henderson*, John Bartelt, Keith Hauer-Lowe, Todd Mclnroy, Lee Reynolds GoH LIASON; Will Shetterly* HOTEL: Jean Messer*, Caryl Wixon* HUCKSTERS: Greg Ketter* LIFE SUPPORT: Beth Friedman* LIGHT SHOW: Richard Tatge* MAIL: Mark Richards* MAILING LIST; Don Bailey, Steve Bond, Judy Cilcain, Dean Gabion, Karen Johnson, Scott Raun. MICRO- DavE Romm*, Brian Westley*, David Cummer PROGRAMMING : MTMEO ROOM; Erik Biever* MN MUNCH!E Rick Gellman* MOVEMENT: OPERATIONS: Martin Schafer* Communications: Beth Friedman, Joel flalpern, Robert Ihinger, Kathy Marschall, Virginia Nelson, Karen Schaffer, Geri Sullivan, Gerri Williams Den Mothers: Gerri Balter, Emma Bull, Eileen Lufkin, Jean Messer, DavE Romm Keypers; David Cummer, Kara Dalkey, Karen Johnson, Todd Mclnroy, Barney Neufeld, John Stanley Recruiting: Steven Brust Troubleshooters: Steve Glennon, Curtis Hoffmann Dave Messer, Jerry Stearns PARTIES: Jonathan Adams*, Carol Kennedy*, Virginia Nelson, David Cummer, Brian Major, Lee Pelton, Herman Schouten PROGRAMMING: Mike Smith*, Emma Bull, Kara Dalkey, David Egge, Doug Friauf, Eric Heideman, Blas Mazzeo, Lee Pelton, Lee Reynolds, DavE Romm, Richard Stuefer, Brian Westley, PUBLICATIONS; Karen Johnson*, Erik Biever, Emma Bull, Sarah Prince, Geri Sullivan, plus thanks to Kara Dalkey, Ken Fletcher, Mark Hopkins, Erin McKee, Will Shetterly REGISTRATION: Peter Larson*, Judy Cilcain*, David Cargo, Kashia Curney SALES; Scott Raun*, Kate Worley TREASURY: John Robey*, Sharon Riger T-SHIRTS: Kate Worley*

Plus: Lynn Anderson, Dave Wixon

indicates head of department